New dog parents may not be familiar with the type of behaviors to look for in new puppies. Puppies are not a simple responsibility, they’re full of energy and can oftentimes be unpredictable in terms of their personality and behavior. For this reason, we’ve prepared this guide for 7 behaviors to look out for in a new puppy, and how you can try to prevent them!

Chewing

Chewing is one of the most common behaviors to look out for in puppies. When they’re young they’ll still be teething and chewing helps soothe them. You’ll need to ensure that any valuables or belongings you want to avoid getting damaged are out of reach. Provide your puppy with plenty of chew toys from our range of dog dental and chew toys. You can also make use of deterrents like Beaphar Indoor Behaviour Spray or Simple Solution Puppy Chew Stopper to help prevent them from chewing items like furniture, shoes, or any other belongings. 

Jumping

Puppies have a lot of energy and a need for attention, and as a result they tend to jump up on people. This may not seem like an issue but with larger sized puppies it might hurt, and some people may not appreciate being jumped on. If you find your puppy is excessively jumping up against you, you can teach them not to by either gently pushing them off, or preventing them from successfully jumping by lifting up your knee to stop them. When your puppy doesn’t jump, be sure to reward them with praise and treats to help establish good behavior. Be sure to also keep your dog’s nails trimmed, using our range of nail clippers and scissors, so that they’re not as long or sharp if they do tend to jump. 

Whining

Young puppies whine when they’re alone or lacking attention. This is due to them missing either their mothers or fellow litter-siblings. Dogs are pack animals and are incredibly social, and therefore require a lot of attention, especially at a young age. You’ll need to spend time with your puppy to bond with them, and provide them with plenty of affection and attention to avoid separation anxiety. If your puppy is constantly whining, even after 3-4 months in your care, you may need to seek out advice from a dog trainer or a veterinarian, as there may be a deeper behavioral issue or health concern at hand. 

Excessive Barking

Barking is completely normal for dogs, it’s their way of communicating with us or getting our attention. However, like whining, if your dog is barking excessively it means that they’re not receiving enough attention, or may be lacking in exercise and stimulation. Excessive barking may also be a sign of anxiety, or behavioral issues, which may require further training. Take your dog on longer or more frequent walks daily, and spend an allocated amount of time each day playing with them to ensure that they’re receiving enough exercise and attention.

Nipping & Biting

It’s completely normal for young puppies to nip and bite while playing, or when looking for attention. The best way to combat this is to provide them with dental and chew toys to play with, and to correct them if they nip at you too often. You can also train them using treats as a reward when they chew on their own toys instead of your fingers. This helps to prevent them from biting or nipping at other people or animals as they get older. 

Peeing Indoors

If your puppy isn’t already housetrained, peeing indoors will be an issue. Their small bladders can only hold for so long, so they’ll need to be taken outdoors regularly for toilet breaks. If you’re unable to take them out during the day, be sure to have a designated area in your home with a pee pad in place so that your puppy can relieve themselves when they need to. You can also use training and repellant sprays to help teach your puppy where they should and shouldn’t pee. 

Eating Anything & Everything

Puppies tend to eat everything they set their sights on and as a result, they need to learn what is appropriate and inappropriate to chomp on. Until they get used to the diet you’ve set for them, along with their feeding schedule, you’ll need to ensure that anything edible is out of range, including human food, medications and small objects that could be swallowed and make them sick. Once you’ve established a feeding schedule and routine, along with tasty puppy food that your little one adores, you won’t have to worry about them munching on anything they shouldn’t as they get older. 

If your puppy has ingested something they shouldn’t, the first course of action would be to take them to the vet immediately. 

Being a puppy parent is certainly a challenge, but it’s one that will reward you with a lifelong companion and family member! When you’re prepared the challenge is a lot easier, just remember to stay calm, patient and dedicate your time towards properly training and caring for your new canine friend!